Mrs Alice Maud Prichard

Mrs Alice Prichard was born as Alice Maud Friend in Notting Hill, Middlesex, England on 9 May 1876.1

It is believed that Alice was illegitimate and the identity of her parents remains uncertain. However, at the time of her marriage in 1904, she stated her father was a George Friend, a doctor; this individual has not been identified.

Whilst Alice's exact parentage is uncertain she appears to have been raised by her grandparents Isaac Friend (1826-1877) and Elizabeth née Daines (1823-1891), both natives of Bawdsey, Suffolk who had married in 1846 and who had eight known children: Ellen (b. 1849), Harriett (b. 1851), James (b. 1853), Caroline (b. 1856), Ann (b. 1858), Anna (b. 1860), George (b. 1863) and Mary (b. 1866).

Alice first appears on the 1881 census; her grandfather, who had been an agricultural labourer, had passed away four years previously and she and her grandmother (plus several uncles and aunts) were listed as living at 77 East Lane, Woodbridge, Bawdsey, Suffolk. On the 1891 census a 15-year-old Alice was still living with her grandmother, then at The Shires (?), Bawdsey. Her grandmother passed away later in 1891 and it seems Alice went to live with her aunt Mary Johnson (née Friend) and her husband Fred at some point. She appears residing with them on the 1901 census at 143 Claxton Grove, Fulham, London and her profession was given as a stewardess.

Alice was married in St Albans Church, Fulham on 18 August 1904; her suitor was Robert Henry Prichard (b. 8 June 1877), a Liverpool-born merchant marine steward, son of sea steward Robert Henry Prichard and his wife Martha Ann Sanderson. Her address was listed as 143 Claxton Grove, Fulham and although she had no stated profession she was known to have worked as a stewardess by this time. Robert Prichard's address was in Barking Road, West Ham.

Alice and her husband would have one child, a daughter named Iris Alice, who was born in late 1906 in Fulham.

On the 1911 census Alice's husband is absent but she, her daughter and brother-in-law John Ernest Prichard--also a sea steward--were living at 9 Masterman Road, East Ham, Essex.

When Alice signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912 she gave her address as 9 Rosslyn Road, East Ham, Essex. Her previous ship had been the Minnehaha and as a stewardess she received monthly wages of £3, 10s. Alice left her daughter in the care of her aunt Mary Johnson.
A letter she sent from Queenstown was auctioned in 1999:

On Board R.M.S. "Titanic"
Queenstown
Dear Pollie,
Just a line from here, I am getting a bit more used to this now. We took most of our passengers on at Cherbourg. She was only 4 hours crossing over. My Deck is W [sic] in the first class but I have to go such a way to the pantry. As I am writing this the band is playing. Just outside my room is the reception room. They play there 4 to 5 and 9 to 10. I hope my darling will keep well. I would give anything to kiss her dear little face now.

It seems so hard to leave her, dear mite. I never thought I should come to this. It is a very crul world when one has to be parted from their only Child for want of money.

Now dear, I will close with fond love. Kiss my darling for me and take care of her, from Alice.

Tell Alice to buck up and be good at figures as there are two lots of job, lady cashiers here in the restaurant and two lady's attendants dfor the Turkish baths. Do write to me so I get it at Plymouth on my way home. Addrss it to Mrs. Prichard, Stewardess, H.M.S. Titanic [sic], White Star Line, Plymouth, to let me know how baby is.

Alice is believed to have been rescued in lifeboat 11 and she returned to England aboard the Lapland. She was not required to give evidence to either of the British of American Inquiries into the disaster.

Alice Prichard at Plymouth after her rescue.

Both how long Alice served at sea following the Titanic disaster and what became of her husband is not certain. She remained a resident at 9 Masterman Road, East Ham for the rest of her life and in 1928 suffered the loss of her daughter Iris Alice aged 21. Her husband also appears to have pre-deceased her. By 1939 she and her brother-in-law John Prichard, a docker, were listed as residents of 9 Masterman Road and Alice was described as a retired stewardess.

Alice Prichard died in King George Hospital, Ilford, Essex on 6 July 1948. She left an estate worth £108, 12s, 7d to her brother-in-law John Ernest Prichard.

Notes

Date 9 May as per the 1939 register; year 1876 an approximation from age given in various censuses. No birth record has been identified for her.